Casing for housing and transporting stage production material

ABSTRACT

A casing for housing and transporting stage production material comprises a hollow main body shaped so as to define a seat for housing the material and at least partially made of a first expanded polymer.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102016000093574 filed on Sep. 16, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a casing for housing and transporting stage production material. In particular, the present invention relates to a casing for housing and transporting material such as, for example, electronic material, projectors, screens, consoles for audio control, consoles for light control, musical instruments, audio equipment, dimmers, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the entertainment field, disassembling, transporting and assembling again the whole stage during musical tours and theatrical events is now a consolidated practice. Furthermore, stages for festivals and performances are increasingly often set up on a temporary basis.

There is therefore a need to protect the more delicate and expensive equipment against any damage possibly occurring during transport. In particular, the material must be protected against any damage caused by impacts, vibrations, falls, dust deposits, humidity, rain, excessively high or excessively low temperatures, etc.

Casings usually defined in jargon as “flight cases” (definition deriving from the use of these cases for air transport) or “road cases” (definition most used in the USA where road transport is more used than air transport), are usually used for housing and transporting the electronic material for setting up a stage.

Many models of casings suitable for transporting all types of stage production material are available on the market.

Most of the casing of known type are formed by panels made of wood or similar materials joined together by means of metal elements and equipped with angular reinforcement metal elements, hinges and retractable handles.

Moreover, to avoid any movement of the material during transport, casings of known type are equipped with protection shells, suitably shaped so as to prevent any vibrations and unwanted movements of the material housed in the casing.

Casings of this type can suitably protect the material, but are very expensive. Moreover, the casings of this type are very heavy and make difficult and dangerous the transport and assembly operations of the stage material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a casing for housing and transporting stage production material that is free from the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a casing for housing and transporting stage production material for setting up a stage that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks in a simple and inexpensive manner, both from the functional and from the structural point of view.

According to these purposes, the present invention relates to a casing for housing and transporting stage production material comprising a hollow main body shaped so as to define a seat for housing the material; the main body being at least partially formed by a first expanded polymer.

Advantageously, the use of an expanded polymer makes the casing much lighter and easier to handle with respect to the casings of known type, which are normally made of wooden panels, with obvious advantages in terms of safety for the operators of the field. Furthermore, a considerable reduction of the weight of the casing also causes a significant reduction in transportation costs.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main body is provided with a cover mobile between a closed position wherein the cover closes the seat and an open position wherein the cover is arranged so that the seat is accessible to allow positioning the material, the cover being at least partially made by a second expanded polymer. In this way, the entire structure of the casing is lightened.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first expanded polymer and the second expanded polymer are substantially identical. In this way, times and costs of production are reduced.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first expanded polymer is expanded polypropylene.

Advantageously, the expanded polypropylene has high impact absorbing properties. Its lightness and its high strength-to-weight ratio makes it an excellent material for this type of application. In fact, it is able to withstand significant loads and impacts without deformations.

Advantageously, the expanded polypropylene is chemically inert and does not undergo alterations in contact with oil, grease, petroleum and most chemicals.

Furthermore, the expanded polypropylene also guarantees a suitable thermal insulation, essential for the correct preservation of electronic equipment and musical instruments.

Finally, the expanded polypropylene is 100% recyclable.

Substantially, the casing thus manufactured is strong and at the same time light and handy. The weight of a casing made of expanded polypropylene is about 75% lighter than the casings of the known type made with wooden panels or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner walls of the main body that define the seat are shaped so as to define at least a protection shell for the material housed in the seat; the protection shell being shaped so as to minimize the movements of the material inside the casing during transport. In this way, any damage to the transported material is minimized.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the protection shell is removable. In this way, materials of different type can be safely transported with the same casing by simply replacing the type of protection shell.

According to a preferred embodiment, the protection shell is made of a material different from the material constituting the main body. Preferably, the protection shell is at least partially made of a third expanded polymer whose density is lower than the one of the first expanded polymer constituting the main body.

In this way, the protection shell has a texture softer than the one of the material constituting the main body and can absorb impacts better.

According to a preferred embodiment, the protection shell is made of expanded polypropylene. This allows optimizing the production costs. Moreover, as previously described, the expanded polypropylene has high mechanical and thermal insulation properties that are also quite useful in the manufacture of the protection shell.

According to a preferred embodiment, the main body is made in one piece. Even more preferably, the cover is made in one piece too.

In this way, the casing has no junction points. Advantageously, the absence of junction points ensures a high resistance against the entrance of water and dust. The casing according to the present invention, in fact, is rated IP 54 in accordance with the scale of protection IP according to the UNI EN60529.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a casing for housing and transporting stage production material according to the present invention in a first operating position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the casing of FIG. 1 in a second operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 indicates with the reference number 1 a casing for housing and transporting stage production material (not shown for simplicity's sake in the attached figures) in an open configuration.

In the non-limiting example here described and shown, the casing 1 is designed for housing two stage projectors, as shown in more detail hereinafter.

The casing 1 comprises a hollow main body 2, shaped so as to define a seat 3 for housing the material, and a cover 4.

The cover 4 is mobile between a closed position (shown in FIG. 2), wherein the cover 4 closes the seat 3, and an open position (shown in FIG. 1), wherein the cover 4 is arranged in such a way that the seat 3 is accessible to allow positioning the material.

In the closed position, the cover 4 is coupled to the main body 2 by geometrical coupling. Advantageously, the geometrical coupling is such that it does not require the use of seals and ensures a good seal against water and dust.

In the non-limiting example here described and shown, the cover 4 is provided with two perimeter grooves 5 a, which are engaged in the closing position by respective perimeter ribs 5 b formed along the edge of the main body 2.

The main body 2 preferably has a parallelepiped shape and is at least partially made of a first expanded polymer, preferably expanded polypropylene (EPP).

The first expanded polymer preferably has a density comprised between about 50 g/l and 70 g/l. In the non-limiting example here described and shown, the density of the first expanded polymer is of 60 g/l.

Preferably, the main body 2 is made in one piece, for example by moulding.

Externally, the main body 2 is provided with a base surface 6 (not visible in the attached figures) and with a lateral surface 7.

Preferably, the main body 2 is provided with a plurality of wheels 8 coupled to the base surface 6. In the non-limiting example here described and shown, the wheels 8 are four.

Along at least two opposite faces of the lateral surface 7, the main body 2 is provided with at least two grooves 10 coupled to respective handles 11, preferably of the “retractable” type. In this way, when the handles 11 are not used, the lateral surface 7 has no protrusions that might prove dangerous or be a hindrance during the movement of the casing 1. Preferably, the handles 11 are made of metal material.

In the non-limiting example here described and shown, the handles are eight (only four of which are visible in the accompanying figures), two for each face of the lateral surface 7.

A variant not shown provides that also the grooves 10 are shaped so as to define a gripping point, in order to avoid the use of the handles.

Internally, the main body 2 comprises an inner bottom wall (not clearly visible) and an inner lateral wall 14 (partially visible), which define the seat 3.

The inner bottom wall 13 and the inner lateral wall 14 are shaped so as to define at least a protection shell 15 designed to minimize the movements of the material which must be housed in the housing 3 during transport.

Preferably, the protection shell 15 is made of a material different from the material constituting the main body 2 and is removable.

Preferably, the protection shell 15 is at least partially made of an expanded polymer having a density lower than the one of the expanded polymer constituting the main body.

For example, the expanded polymer constituting the protection shell 15 has a density comprised between 30 g/l and 40 g/l.

In the non-limiting example here described and shown, the expanded polymer constituting the protection shell 15 is expanded polypropylene (EPP).

Preferably, the removable protection shell 15 is made by moulding.

In the non-limiting example here described and shown, the bottom wall and the lateral wall 14 are shaped so as to define two protection shells 15, each of which is designed to minimize the movements of two respective stage projectors (not shown for simplicity's sake in the attached figures).

The cover 4 is at least partially made of an expanded polymer, preferably expanded polypropylene (EPP), identical to the one used for making the main body.

Preferably, also the cover 4 is made in one piece, for example by moulding.

With reference to FIG. 2, the cover 4 is externally provided with a top surface 17, which is preferably provided with a plurality of reinforcement plates 18 and is internally provided with an inner surface 19 provided with a coating 20 (FIG. 1).

The reinforcement plates 18 have the function of reinforcing the cover 4 when different casings 1 are stacked one over the other, e.g. during transportation or storage.

In fact, the reinforcement plates 18 are arranged at the wheels 8, so that the wheels 8 of the casing 1 lying on the cover 4 rest on the reinforcement plates 18.

Preferably, the reinforcement plates 18 are slightly concave so as to define a sort of housing for the wheels 8.

The coating 20 is preferably shaped so as to cooperate together with the protection shell 15 to minimize the movements of the material housed in the seat 3.

The casing 1 is further provided with at least a closing device 22 (FIG. 2), designed to lock the cover 4 in the closed position, and with a driving device (not visible in the attached figures), designed to guide the movement of the cover 4 with respect to the main body 2 from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. In particular, the driving device comprises one or more hinges (not shown for simplicity's sake) coupled to the main body and to the cover and designed to allow a rotation of the cover around the same axis. Preferably, the driving device is also designed to lock the cover 4 in the open position and to allow an easy access to the seat 3.

Finally, it is clear that the casing described herein can be subject to modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. Casing for housing and transporting stage production material comprising a hollow main body (2) shaped so as to define a seat (3) for housing the material; the main body (2) being at least partially made of a first expanded polymer.
 2. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) is provided with a cover (4) mobile between a closed position wherein the cover (4) closes the seat (3) and an open position wherein the cover (4) is arranged so that the seat (3) is accessible to allow positioning the material; the cover (4) being at least partially made of a second expanded polymer.
 3. A casing according to claim 2, wherein the first expanded polymer and the second expanded polymer are substantially identical.
 4. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the first expanded polymer is expanded polypropylene (EPP).
 5. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the inner walls (13, 14) of the main body (2) which define the seat (3) are shaped so as to define at least one protection shell (15) for protecting the material housed in the seat (3); the protection shell (15) being shaped so as to minimize the movements of the material inside the casing (1) during transport.
 6. A casing according to claim 5, wherein the protection shell (15) is made of a material different from the material of the main body (2).
 7. A casing according to claim 5, wherein the protection shell (15) is removable.
 8. A casing according to claim 5, wherein the protection shell (15) is at least partially made of a third expanded polymer having a density lower than the density of the first expanded polymer of the main body (2).
 9. A casing according to claim 8, wherein the third expanded polymer is expanded polypropylene (EPP).
 10. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) is at least partially made of a first expanded polymer having a density comprised between about 50 g/l and about 70 g/l, preferably 60 g/l.
 11. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) is made in one piece.
 12. A casing according to claim 2, comprising at least one closing device (22) designed to block the cover (4) in the closed position.
 13. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) is externally provided with a base surface (6) and with a lateral surface (7); the main body (2) being provided with a plurality of wheels (8) coupled to the base surface (7).
 14. A casing according to claim 13, wherein the main body (2) is provided with at least two grooves (10) formed on opposed faces of the lateral surface (7) and shaped so as to define handholds.
 15. A casing according to claim 13, wherein the main body (2) is provided with at least two handles (11) coupled to respective grooves (10) formed on opposed faces of the lateral surface (7). 